Could someone have seen Phoenix on the cliff when Marguerite fell?

Will the police think Phoenix pushed her?

Why didn't Phoenix just tell the truth about what happened?

Phoenix was a master gardener, and she worked for Marguerite Gray and her husband Geoffrey.

Marguerite was a famous home decorating influencer.

Phoenix was jealous of Marguerite because of her status and because she was in love with her husband.

Could she have pushed Marguerite?

Perhaps she pushed her since Phoenix and Geoffrey were having an affair.

If someone found out about the affair, would they be looking at the incident differently?

Uncertainty and a sinister tone abound in this slow moving read.

Give it a try and see if you can figure out what's going on with each character, why Phoenix does what she does.

A bizarre, eerie ending. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Marguerite is a force of a woman: in life and in death. Her presence is felt throughout the book giving it and eery vibe. In addition, the grounds and house of Rosecliff Manor reek of sadness and evil. The protagonist, Phoenix, brings to it an air of desperation that permeates her character, darkening every room that she enters. Geoffrey seems light-hearted, but he is so distant. How can they all go on without Marguerite? It is not pretty, that's for sure. The dark atmosphere of the novel redeems the book from its poor execution of a plot. The characters save this book from being boring. All in all, not a bad book, but it will not be for everyone. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars rounded to 4. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I'm not a big fan of psychological thrillers, but the descriptive prose drew me in from the opening scene of a garden party as a storm approached. You can't help but keep turning pages to see what's going to happen.

I dove into Marguerite By The Lake blind and I'm so glad I did. I have no idea where the story was going and I loved the ride.
I'm not sure if the author wanted me to like the main character or not, but I couldn't stand her (in the best possible way (&). Maybe because my husband's name is Geoffrey. I don't want to give any spoilers, so when you read it you'll understand.
The ending came on fast and furious and left me wanting just a little bit more.
If you like Lisa Jewel, you will like this book!

There is nothing worse than the ghost of guilt haunting you. Completely immersive and plausible. I enjoyed this book as the pacing and plotting were well done. The characters are very unlikeable for a reason. Overall a nice quick read.

Marguerite by the Lake is an intriguing book dealing with themes like high society, human relationships, ghosts, guilt, and social class. Marguerite Gray is a high-society influencer who lives on an estate called Rosecliff. The landscaping and gardens are gorgeous, and Marguerite writes books and posts about how she created these beauties herself. However, her landscaping company does most of the work, headed up by Phoenix, a young woman who is a skilled gardener and landscaper..
The book opens with a party held on the grounds of Rosecliff, celebrating the publication of a new book written by Marguerite. A storm comes up during Marguerite’s speech, and a large tree falls, nearly killing or injuring many guests. Phoenix’s announcement for everyone to evacuate the area, precludes any injuries. She also saves Geoffrey, Marguerite’s husband, from being killed.
After this debacle, Marguerite begins treating Pheonix with suspicion, and it comes to light that Phoenix and Geoffrey are starting an affair. Phoenix continues to work at Rosecliff despite Marguerite’s poor treatment. One day, Marguerite is taking photographs on the cliff and Phoenix notices that she is standing too close to the edge. An argument ensues, and Marguerite falls to her death. Who is responsible for her death? Did Phoenix push her?
Because Phoenix feels that she would be blamed, she does not report anything to the police. An investigation ensues, plunging Phoenix into more guilt and shame. She can’t stay away from Geoffrey, however, and moves in with him. In their living room hangs a painting done by a famous artist named Serge Kuhnert called Marguerite by the Lake. Phoenix feels Marguerite’s presence all over the house, but particularly in the living room.
The story was well written and fast -paced, but I did not like the characters at all. I found them selfish and unkind. I also found many of the characters unidimensional, with not much depth. I would recommend this book as I found it entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Received an ARC and I enjoyed the relationships between mother/daughter, husband/wife and husband/lover. An understanding of how an accidental death of the wife takes its toll. The guilt and voices that play havoc on your mind can drive you crazy. But the twists of who is guilty will surprise you.

Holy moly, this was one wild ride! I loved this book, it was magnificently written. Phoenix’ slow decent into madness from guilt of what she has done. It was so twisty and I loved every single minute! This story wrapped itself around me and wont let me go. Definitely recommend reading this, it’s absolutely mind blowing!

Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter is an atmospheric novel that delves into themes of ambition, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. The story centers around Phoenix Sullivan, a skilled yet unrecognized landscape artist employed by the renowned home influencer, Marguerite Gray. Marguerite, immortalized in a famous painting, has built a Martha Stewart-esque empire around home and garden design. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Phoenix becomes entangled in an affair with Marguerite's husband, Geoffrey, after saving him during an accident at their estate. The tension escalates, culminating in a confrontation that leads to Marguerite's tragic fall from a cliff—the very location depicted in her iconic portrait.​

Carter's writing effectively captures the opulence and underlying tensions within the Gray household, providing readers with a vivid portrayal of the characters' intricate dynamics. Phoenix's internal conflict and the moral ambiguities she faces are well-articulated, adding depth to her character. However, some readers may find the plot progression somewhat predictable, and certain character motivations could have been explored more thoroughly to enhance the narrative's complexity.​

Overall, "Marguerite by the Lake" offers a compelling exploration of ambition and betrayal set against a backdrop of luxury and art. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it provides an engaging read for those interested in character-driven stories with elements of suspense

"Marguerite by the Lake" is a compelling and unsettling slow burn of a read that will leave you questioning the nature of appearances and the hidden motives that drive human behavior. Carter has crafted a suspenseful and thought-provoking thriller that is sure to captivate fans of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC. #NetGalley #Margueritebythelake

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the book #MargueriteByTheLake by #MaryDixieCarter. Phoenix is the gardener for Marguerite and Geoffrey Gray. Marguerite is famous for being the muse of a painting called Marguerite by the Lake. After saving Geoffrey’s life from a falling tree, Phoenix and Geoffrey start having an affair. Not long after the affair starts, Marguerite falls to her death. Why did she fall and did Phoenix have something to do with it? It seems that everyone is hot on her trail.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book reminded me of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier in that it has similar vibes, but I felt that Rebecca was executed much better. In Marguerite by the Lake, I did not like any of the characters, but I continued the book to give an honest review and because I wanted to see how it ended. Phoenix, the gardener, at a garden party given by Marguerite, saves the life of Marguerite's husband which makes him too grateful. Shortly after Marguerite dies, Phoenix moves into Rosecliff, the house, which is another character. Marguerite's adult daughter Taylor arrives and immediately takes a dislike to Phoenix and is suspicious of her. I felt this was more of a literary mystery than a thriller. This book wasn't for me, but others may find that it is the perfect fit, so I would recommend it.

A gothic atmospheric read! This is my first novel by Carter and won't be my last. I loved her writing. She drew me in from the first page. This is one to recommend for book clubs with lots to discuss.

I really wanted to like Marguerite by the Lake, and the beginning held a lot of promise. But as the story progressed, that promise began to fall flat, and then was gone completely. The characters, especially Phoenix, were very unlikable and unrelatable, and the story lacked a good flow. The story line was all over the place and while I was able to follow it easily enough, I was annoyed the whole time. Definitely not the book for me, but would recommend for others to give it a try.

The story is told in Phoenix’s. words
At a garden party that Marguerite planned to show off her garden, a storm occurred and Phoenix the designer and Gardner, who had strangely been invited, noticed a large tree on the edge of the cliff that was in danger of falling as a storm was brewing. She ran onto the stage where Marguerite was welcoming party member and shouted for everyone to evacuate the tent as the tree was falling. Marguerite ignored her, but Geoffrey understood and grabbed the microphone. As she and Geoffrey were trying to move the people Phoenix notice Geoffrey was in danger. She ran and threw herself on Geoffrey, Marguerite’s husband, to save him from being killed as the tree came down.

Geoffrey was forever thankful, to the point that they became lovers. Marguerite had had her portrait done by a famous painter and he called it Marguerite By The Lake. The painting hung in the living room of the Manor, the painting became a significant part of the story. While Phoenix was in the garden one day she saw Marguerite standing at the cliffs edge looking out into the lake, she was scared the ground wasn’t safe and tried to convince Marguerite to step back. Marguerite didn’t want to hear, especially as she was aware of Phoenix relationship with her husband…..disaster occurred.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when reading this book. It was not the thriller I thought it would be based on the cover. It was written well but didn’t love the characters and felt they were a little underdeveloped. It was different but not sure it was for me.

The Art Teacher's Return: A Lake Placid Mystery Worth Diving Into

You know that creeping feeling when a place from your past isn't quite how you remember it? That hits Marguerite when she returns to Camp Jackson as an art teacher. The elite summer camp on Lake Placid's shores seems the same at first - same weathered cabins, same entitled parents dropping off their kids, same dark lake reflecting the Adirondack pines. But something's off.

Mary Dixie Carter's new thriller peels back the glossy veneer of summer camp life like old paint, revealing the rot underneath. Through her photographer's lens (a fitting skill, given her debut The Photographer), Carter captures the subtle warfare between camp staff, wealthy helicopter parents, and kids who've learned manipulation before their multiplication tables.

The story builds slowly, like a summer storm. Some might call the first act slow, but Carter uses those pages to lay tripwires that snap later with devastating effect. Past and present blur as Marguerite's history with the camp surfaces in fragments, each revelation muddying the waters further.

The lake itself becomes more than a setting—it's a mirror for the characters' depths, reflecting both beauty and darkness. Carter's prose is sharp enough to draw blood, especially when dissecting the power plays of the privileged. A few plot threads drift away like fallen leaves, and certain side characters feel more like sketches than portraits. But these are minor ripples in an otherwise masterful work.

By the end, Marguerite by the Lake proves itself more than just another psychological thriller - it's a stark look at class, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to sleep at night. If you loved The Secret History or The Silent Patient, clear your schedule. Just don't read it before your kid's first summer camp drop-off.

3.5/5 stars

Phoenix Sullivan is an expert, if unestablished, landscape artist, working for the home influencer Marguerite Gray. Marguerite is the subject of a famous painting and has parlayed that fame into a Martha Stewart-esque home and garden design empire. An affair builds between Phoenix and Marguerite’s husband Geoffrey, who she saves in an accident at their home. She’s not sure if Marguerite knows, but one day they get into an argument and the wealthy Ms. Gray falls to her death from the same cliff where the painting is set.

This story hinges on uncertainty. Tension builds because we’re just not sure of a few things: if Phoenix is responsible for Marguerite’s death, if neighbors saw what happened, if Geoffrey plans to continue the relationship. Carter does a great job infusing the reader’s mind with all the maddening questions inside Phoenix’s head. The poor girl is straight up freaking out on page after page, and we can feel her hair falling out and pounds shed from the anxiety.

The initial incident is set up brilliantly. Action begins on page one with the tree accident, and the aftermath is fraught with all kinds of juicy subtext. From there, various bad situations unfold, ones which Phoenix can’t seem to avoid. The specter of danger and chaos looms throughout. Also, the ghost of Marguerite, haunting Phoenix through the house calls forth the brilliance of Daphne du Maurier’s classic Rebecca. It initiates and intensifies her descent into madness. And that madness was a driving force, a great way to engage the reader. There was even some magical realism going on: the ghost seems to thwart her with strange happenings. Phoenix then feels compelled to keep destroying things to rid herself of her. “Wow, she’s legit crazy,” I thought. And that’s always fun.

However, I thought there were missed opportunities to build excitement. Characters made odd decisions, and tense scenes felt unfinished. There’s clearly a rivalry between Phoenix and Taylor, Marguerite’s lookalike daughter. But Taylor let her off the hook once too often, which I thought was uncharacteristic. Also, I wished the detective was more proactive, as those interrogations also seemed stilted. Finally, I thought we’d learn more about Phoenix’s history. It seemed it would be a major plot point, but there was only a hint of it at the climax.

But all in all, this was a quick and interesting murder-mystery, a solid entry into the psychological thriller genre.

Marguerite is a force to be reckoned with. She is a famous “gardener” and her brand - built around her books - is also built on a lie. Phoenix, her talented landscape designer begins to resent how Marguerite continues to present Phoenix’s work as her own. Phoenix’s complicated childhood and damaged family cause her to be vulnerable when she is suddenly swept into Marguerite’s social circle and simultaneously becomes the object of Marguerite’s husband’s attention.
When Marguerite dies under suspicious circumstances Phoenix is the only witness. As the novel progresses, the reader becomes less confident in Phoenix’s description of the tragic event. Phoenix seems to be experiencing episodes of hallucinations and breaks with reality. Is she going mad or has she always been a bit crazy? What is real and what is not?

This one wasn’t for me. It was more literary than I was expecting, which might really work for some, but not me. Overall the story was good, but for me, with a literary book it just takes too long to get to the point.